As any man I ever saw. In atheism his days did spend Until his time drew near an end. Then for the fashion he did say, That he was of the Popish way; Because a priest made him believe, That he to him would pardon give, And would from purgatory bring Him to a place where he would sing; But that was but a forged lie. For Lag lives hot and bien with me, It was in spite he money gave Unto the priest that greedy slave, For he had neither pith nor power To keep my friend from me an hour; For when I heard that he was dead, A legion of my den did lead Him to my place of residence, Where still he’ll stay, and not go hence: For purgatory I must tell, It is the lowest place in hell: Well plenish’d with the Romish sort, Where thousands of them do resort. There many a prince and pope doth dwell, Fast fetter’d in that lower cell, And from that place they ne’er win free, Though greedy priests for gain do lie. In making ignorants conceive, They’ll bring them from the infernal cave, Such as do bribe them well with gold As heaven with pelf were bought and sold. Sure that is but a vain deceit Contriv’d by Antichrist of late; To keep the worshippers of the Whore Senseless in sin, blind and secure; And to make priest look fat and fine, Who nought but carnal things do mind. For this is what I truly know, They come not back from whence they go, They who take their abode with me, From that place they are never free. This Lag will know and all the rest, Who of my lodging are possest. On earth no more they can serve me, But still I have their company: With this I must my grief allay, So I no more of Lag will say. FINIS A WEDDING-RING, FIT FOR THE FINGER: LAID OPEN IN A SERMON, PREACHED AT A WEDDING IN ST. EDMOND’S. BY WILLIAM SECKER, LATE PREACHER OF THE GOSPEL. GENESIS ii. 18. And the LORD GOD said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help-meet for him. [Illustration] GLASGOW: PRINTED FOR THE BOOKSELLERS. A WEDDING-RING, FIT FOR THE FINGER. A SERMON ON GENESIS ii. 18. _And the Lord God said, it is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a help-meet for him._ Human misery is to divine mercy, as a black soil to a sparkling diamond; or as a sable cloud to the sun-beams, Psalm viii. 4.--_Lord, what is man, that thou art mindful of him?_ Man is, in his creation, angelical; in his corruption, diabolical; in his renovation, theological; in his translation, majestical. There were four silver channels in which the chrystal streams of God’s affection ran to man in his creation. 1. In his preparation. 2. In his Assimilation. 3. In his coronation. 4. In his Association.